NORTH LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (KARK) – A local World War II veteran has been selected to attend an upcoming return to Normandy with other veterans for the 80th anniversary of D-Day.
William Toombs is 100 years old and was born in Little Rock, Arkansas. He said he is grateful he is still able to tell his story.
“We flew our first bombing mission on D-Day,” Toombs said. “We were to bomb a railroad yard that cut off communications to keep the Germans from letting anything come in and getting out, but we couldn’t see the target so we didn’t drop.”
June 6, 2024, marks the 80th anniversary of D-Day when tens of thousands of Americans and Allied troops stormed the shoreline of Normandy to take back Europe from Nazi Germany in 1944.
“It was the largest amphibious landing in the history of the world,” Toombs said. “You can never imagine how many ships and airplanes flew that day.”
It’s memories that Toombs has that he will soon share with around 50 World War II veterans selected to attend ‘The Battlefield Return’ to Normandy with The Best Defense Foundation partnering with Delta to provide a special charter flight.
“It only happens once in a lifetime.” Toombs adds, “It will be exciting just to meet them and talk about old times with them.”
Toombs said he enlisted at 18 years old, leaving his then job as a railroad mechanic apprentice.
“When I enlisted I wanted to be a mechanic, I didn’t want to fly,” he said. “I just evolved into a flying group.”
He served as a flight engineer gunner on both B17s and B24s with the 493rd Bomb Group of the Army Air Corp also known as the “Mighty 8th.”
“I don’t think I could have picked a better bunch than what they did, we had a great crew and every man knew their jobs,” Toombs said.
He served in 28 missions until the war ended.
“When the war was over, I thought that was it, you would never hear any more about it,” said Toombs.
Toombs said he returned to working in the railroad and years later he was pleasantly surprised to be honored so many times for his service. He said he is thankful that this soon-to-be trip will allow him to join hands with others who served.
“It’s an honor to me for people to recognize what I did in the war and I think that I really appreciate that part. I didn’t expect anyone to do that but I really enjoy it,” Toombs said.
Best Defense Foundation is partnering up with Delta Airlines who will provide the veterans a special charter flight to Normandy where they will be celebrated with parades, school visits, ceremonies and more. They take flight June 1.
